Night Fishing Surprise: Catching a Big Soft-Shelled Turtle – Had Fun, Then Let It Go

Let me tell you, last night’s fishing trip was wilder than I expected. I was dead tired after working overtime at the factory until 8 PM—seriously, my eyes were already half-closed by the time I clocked out. I told myself, “No way am I going fishing tonight. Sleep is way more important.” But then a buddy texted me: “The bite’s still on! Just caught a couple of nice crucian carp.” Ugh, that’s all it took. My sleepiness vanished faster than a fish escaping a hook. I grabbed my gear, threw it in the car, and bolted to the fishing spot. Let’s just say I have zero regrets (well, maybe a little less sleep, but totally worth it).

The Setup: Battling Strong Currents with a Heavy Lead Rig

When I got to the spot, I saw my buddy already had a few crucian carp in his bucket—each one bigger than my palm! My hands were itching to cast a line, so I set up right next to him. But wait, the current was strong last night. I tried adjusting my float a dozen times, but it kept bobbing all over the place. No way I could get a clear bite signal like that. So I thought, “Screw it, let’s go heavy.” I switched to a heavy lead rig, pulled the space beans apart, and went for a “big running lead” setup. If you’re not into fishing jargon, basically it’s a rig that lets the line slide through the lead so the fish can take the bait without feeling the weight—perfect for strong currents.

At first, nothing happened. I sat there for 20 minutes, staring at my float like it owed me money. My buddy’s rod was quiet too. I started thinking, “Maybe I should just go home. My bed is calling my name.” But then—bam! My buddy’s float disappeared. He reeled in a monster crucian carp, probably 8 inches long! I was so jealous I almost forgot to congratulate him. That’s when I decided to stop slacking. I adjusted my rig one more time, tightened the drag a little, and focused. Ten minutes later? Float up! I reeled in a nice crucian carp too—my first catch of the night. I was so excited I almost dropped my rod! That’s the thing about fishing, right? One minute you’re bored out of your mind, the next you’re screaming like a kid on Christmas.

The Big Surprise: Catching a Giant Soft-Shelled Turtle

After that first catch, I was on fire. I caught another crucian carp 30 minutes later—this one even bigger! The fight was so much fun; it pulled my rod down so hard I thought it was a carp at first. My buddy was packing up to leave around 10 PM, but I told him, “Nah, I just got here. Let me stay a little longer.” I had no idea what was waiting for me.

I sat there for what felt like an hour, staring at my float. The water was calm now, but the current was still tickling the surface. Suddenly, my float was gone—completely submerged. I thought, “Great, the current dragged it under.” I tried to reel in, but my rod wouldn’t budge. “Ugh, I hooked a rock,” I thought. I gave it a hard yank, and—it moved! Oh my god, that wasn’t a rock. It was a fish… or something bigger. I reeled in slowly, but whatever was on the line was fighting back hard. I thought it was a big common carp—those things are strong! But when I pulled it up to the surface, I almost dropped my rod. It was a soft-shelled turtle (you might call it a “turtle” or “softshell” in English)! And it was huge—easily a pound and a half, maybe more. Its shell was smooth, not the bumpy kind of regular turtles, and it was squirming like crazy when I got it on the bank.

My hands were shaking as I took a few photos. Let me show you what it looked like:

After the initial excitement, I realized how tired I was. It was almost 11 PM, and I had to wake up early for work. I looked at the two crucian carp in my bucket and the turtle, and thought, “Nah, I don’t need to keep these. The fun was in the catch.” So I let all of them go back into the water. The turtle swam away fast, like it was mad at me for pulling it out, and the crucian carp darted off into the dark. That’s the thing about fishing for me—I don’t do it for the meat. I do it for the rush of the bite, the fight of the fish, and the surprise of what’s under the surface. Catching that turtle was the cherry on top of a crazy night.

Why Letting It Go Was the Right Call

I know some people keep big catches like that, but for me? It’s all about the experience. Let me list a few reasons why I let the turtle go:

• It’s not about the food: I don’t eat turtle, and I don’t want to keep an animal just for a photo. Plus, crucian carp taste great, but I already had my fun catching them—no need to take them home.
• Conservation matters: Soft-shelled turtles are part of the ecosystem. If everyone kept every big catch, there wouldn’t be any left for the next guy. I want my kids to be able to catch cool stuff like this too.
• The rush is enough: The best part of fishing is the moment you feel the bite, the fight to reel it in, and the surprise of what’s on the line. Once that’s over, I’m ready to let it go. It’s like a rollercoaster—you ride it once, have fun, and get off. You don’t take the rollercoaster home with you.

Also, let’s be real—hauling a 1.5-pound turtle home would have been a pain. It probably would have escaped from my bucket anyway! Better to let it go where it belongs.

Lessons Learned from This Night Fishing Trip

Looking back, there are a few things I’ll remember for my next trip:

1. Adapt to the Conditions

The current was strong, so I had to switch to a heavy lead rig. If I’d stuck with my normal setup, I never would have caught anything. Fishing is all about being flexible—what works one day might not work the next. So always check the water conditions before you go, and have a few different rigs ready.

2. Don’t Give Up Too Soon

I almost left after 20 minutes of no bites, but I stuck it out. And that’s when the magic happened. Fishing is 90% waiting and 10% action, but that 10% is worth every minute of boredom. So next time you’re sitting there with no bites, take a deep breath, adjust your rig, and wait a little longer. You never know what’s going to bite.

3. The Best Catches Are the Unexpected Ones

I went out expecting to catch crucian carp, but I ended up with a giant soft-shelled turtle. That’s the beauty of fishing—you never know what’s going to happen. Some of my best trips have been the ones where I didn’t catch anything “important,” but I had a great time with my buddies or saw something cool (like a heron flying by, or a family of ducks).

Let me share a couple more photos from the night—here’s my first crucian carp, and the second one I caught:

Both of those were great catches, but the turtle was the real star of the show. I still can’t believe I pulled that thing out of the water! My hands were sore the next day from reeling it in, but it was totally worth it.

Wrapping Up: A Night I’ll Never Forget

So that’s my story—working overtime, almost skipping fishing, catching a couple of carp, and then landing a giant soft-shelled turtle. I let it go, went home, and slept like a baby (even though I was tired). It’s nights like these that make me love fishing so much. It’s not about the number of fish you catch, or the size. It’s about the adventure, the surprise, and the feeling of being out in nature at night—listening to the crickets, watching the stars, and waiting for that next bite.

Have you ever had a crazy fishing surprise? Like catching something you never expected? Let me know in the comments (if this were a real blog, that is!). I’d love to hear your stories. And if you’re thinking about going night fishing, just do it—you never know what you’ll catch. Just remember to bring a good flashlight, wear warm clothes (it gets cold at night!), and don’t forget to let the big ones go if you don’t need them. Happy fishing!